Bullet Point Buffet

Central Florida has a new Margaritaville, and depending on where you stand on the Salt! Salt! Salt! spectrum you’ll either find that thrilling or horrifying. Margaritaville Resort Orlando had a grand ribbon cutting ceremony last week to officially open the Kissimmee hotel. Yes, of course there are restaurants (though some are open only to resort guests). But don’t expect to find a Cheeseburger in Paradise — that food item is trademarked elsewhere. There’s no Jimmy Buffett, either, though you’ll certainly hear his music playing. And before you ask, no, there is no relationship between the Kissimmee resort and the Margaritaville restaurant at Universal CityWalk. I obviously don’t understand the intricacies of branding and intellectual property.

Everyone is waiting for the announcement of the opening date for Jaleo, the José Andrés at Disney Springs. The arrival of a truck should be a good sign, right? But unfortunately it isn’t a moving truck but rather a food truck. Or at least a food truck concept. It was announced last week that Jaleo will have attached to it a brick and mortar version of Pepe, a food truck owned by Andrés’s ThinkFoodGroup. It will serve a menu of hot and cold Spanish-style sandwiches. As for when Jaleo will open, I’m hearing that we should have a date by the end of the week. Stay tuned.

Do young people know what stay tuned means?

Burntwood Tavern is taking over the space in the Dr. Phillips neighborhood that once was home to Stonewood Grill & Tavern. The Orlando restaurant will be the Ohio company’s second in Florida (there’s one in Naples) and 11th overall, though another is planned for Ohio. Crab cakes, fish and chips, steak frites, fish tacos and a whole bunch of sandwiches make up the fairly mundane sounding menu.

The space vacated recently by Wonton Asian Kitchen on Fairbanks Avenue in Winter Park will become Bread & Co. Artisan Bakery. Sign is in place but the ovens haven’t started up yet. I’ll let you know, so don’t touch that dial (see stay tuned above).

The next Chef’s Night event at Second Harvest Food Bank will feature the chefs of Second Harvest and the specialty products from its A Spoon Full of Hope line. The dinner is Feb. 7. Get more details and buy tickets here.

The Lunar New Year, sometimes referred to as Chinese New Year, kicks off Feb. 5, but you’ll probably start seeing celebrations at various Asian restaurants beginning this weekend.